Hand-power propeller.



No. 696,703. Patented Apr. l, 1902..

A. wlLsoN.v HAND POWER PROPELLER.

(Application led Apr. 16, 1901.) (No Model.)

lli IQI Illlllllllullllllnil I m la M 5.,..

NiTnp STaTns lPaTnrvT rrr-ten,

ISAAC A. WILSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HANDm-POWER PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,703, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed April 16, 1901. Serial No. 56,143. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ISAAC ALBERT WrLsoN, a subject of the King of England, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented an Improved Hand- Power Propeller, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to improvements in hand-power-propeller Vessels; and it consists chieliy in the introduction of mechanical parts, constructions, and arrangements of parts ttingly attached to light crafts of the said kind for the purpose of utilizing the physical strength of a person in working the same to the best advantage and to assist in attaining the highest possible speed of such vessels when used in either deep or shallow water.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a top plan View of a portion of a small vessel embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a view in front elevation of the propeller-wheel; and Figs. 5, tl, and 7 represent details, on an enlarged scale, relating to the parts of Figs. 2 and 3.

The vessel as constructed and represented in the accompanying drawings relates to a hand-poWer-propeller craft of light draft and capable of high speed running by means of an introduced lever which is pivotally attached to a framework and operated by handpower, the imparted motion of said parts causing the operation of the propelling mechanism.

The mechanical parts to which I refer areV wheel O, rigidly attached to the same, and a crank e at a suitable point intermedia-'te its length, the ends of said shaft projecting' from the sides of the boat and adapted to be mounted with side wheels when the boat is 'to be `used for running in shallow water, where a propeller-screw would be of little or no use. The aforementioned beveled gear-wheel C is adapted to mesh with a pinio'nf, carried by one end of a counter-shaft g, which shaft carries at its opposite end a suitable spur-wheel D, whereby motion may be transmitted to a pinion h, keyed to the longitudinally-grooved portion fm of the main shaft E, thereby rotating the connected propeller-shaft F, which latter rests on supports 5 and 6in an inclined position and has its upper end coupled to the rear end of the said main shaft by means of a liexible shaft t', while the other end of said shaft bears the propeller-screw G, which is preferably closely located in front of the steering apparatus IjI and reaches down into the water below the bottom-line of the boat. The under sides of the lower frame-timbers a Ct are provided with tongues 7.: 7o for their entire length, and the said tongues are adapted to rest in grooves Z Z in the supporting Hoor-timbers c c for enabling a sliding motion to be imparted to the frames A and B, the pinion h being free to move longitudinally of the main shaft E, in accordance with the movement of 'the said frames, by virtue of its keyed engagement with the grooved portion m of said main shaft. It will be readily seen that a great advantage is attained by permitting a longitudinal movement of the said parts, as it materially assists in balancing the boat or lowering, more or less, the propeller-screw below the surface of the water. Of course I contemplate providing any suitable and desired means for retaining -the said parts in a given position during operation of the propeller mechanism.

Arranged vertically upon the lower frame A are suitable supports, as n 0, which carry the main shaft E and are provided with endwise-located journal-bearing blocks p q, securely retaining the said shaft in position.

Located at a suitable point within the boat is a lever L, which consists of an arched rod or yoke having side bars t t, which are each provided with a flattened end r, pivotallyse-V cured by means of pins passed through eyes in the same and into any of a series' of apertures, as s s, in the said lower frame-timbers a a, in which position the lever may be oscillated by a person occupying a suitable seat, as I, behind the lever, the distance between said seat and lever being readily regulated by changing the pins carried by the ends r of the lever to any of a series of holes or apertures s s in the lower frame-timbers provided for that purpose. About centrally of the length of the side bars t of lever L are attached sliding T-shaped sleeve-bearings P P, each provided with a set-screw to enable the same to be 'adjustably secured at any preferred height on said bar t, the said bearings P serving as supports for a suitable cross-rod u, situated between the said bars, as best lshown in Figs. 2 and 7 of. the drawings. Said cross-rod is also provided with a T-,shaped sleeve-bearing R, which is free to rotate upon said rod and carries the upper end of a pitman M, which at its lower end or cross-head i: isfcou pled to crank e in the usual manner to revolve the same when the lever is operated. The lower end of said pitman is made comparatively heavy to assist the motion of lever L by increasing the momentum of crank e, and thereby enabling the same to the more readily pass the dead-center, To increase or decrease the leverage power of lever L, the length of stroke thereof is al- Lered by the cross-rod u being adjusted vertically of said lever, such movement being permitted by an adjustment of said set-screws of sleeve-bearings P P. For instance, should the said cross-rod be moved upwardly the leverage would be decreased and should it be lowered the leverage would be increased. The seat I behind the lever is arranged for the accommodation of the person operating said lever and is mounted upon atransversely-arranged rod '7, which is revolubly mounted in suitable supporting arches, as N, each of which arches is provided with downwardlyextending legs 8, the said legs being adapted to be supported by being passed through sockets 9, mounted upon platform lO. Each of sockets 9 is provided with a set-screw engaging the leg passed therethrough, whereby the said seat may be raised or lowered to accommodate the occupant. The revoluble mounting of rod 7 in its supports permits of a rocking movement of seat I, so that the same may follow the occupant in his forward and backward movements during the operation of said lever, the seat being the pivot-point of said movement, whereby the operator is at all times provided with a comfortably-positioned seat.

The propeller-screw G, as best seen in Fig. -i of the drawings, consists of a double or twoblade wheel comprising spirally formed blades c'fz', which are arranged at suitable angles to each other and are fastened to the iiat rear surface of the said screw arising from an aXis l2, and the rounded sides of the same are strengthened by the ribsl to sustain the pressure brought to bear against the same by the reaction of the water behind the blades when they are set in motion.

Although ,I have specificallyk set forth one particular embodiment of the present invention, yet I do not wish to4 be understood as limiting myself to the precise structure specified, but shall ieel at liberty to deviate from the minor details thereof within the spirit and scope of my invention.

framework,the construction and arrangement being such that the said framework may be moved longitudinally ofthe said side timbers,

and carry with it said propeller-operating mechanism substantially as described.

2. A propeller vessel comprising in its'con-` struction a hull, parallel'side timbers mounted therein and provided with longitudinal grooves a framework slidably mounted upon said timbers, means carried by saidvframework engaging said grooves, stern and side propeller operating mechanism `mounted upon said framework, and means foroperating such mechanism, substantially as described. z

3. A propeller vessel comprising in its construction a hull, a framework slidably mounted therein, and means mounted on said framework for simultaneously operating sternscrew and side-propeller mechanism, substantially as described. v

4. A propeller vessel comprising in its construction a hull, a framework mounted therein and slidable longitudinally thereof, and hand-operated means carried by said vframework for simultaneously actuating sternscr'ew and side-propeller mechanism substantially as described.

A5. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination with a hull of a framework slidably mounted within the same, a crankshaft iinding bearings in said framework arranged transversely of the said hull and having its ends extending beyond the sides thereof and adapted to carry side-wheel propel- 1ers, a crank interposed intermediate the length of said shaft, hand-operated means for rotating the said crank, and means carried by said crank-shaft for imparting motion to a stern-propeller, substantially as described.

6. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination with a hull of means for operating a stern-propeller,comprising a framework mounted within said hull, a crank-shaft arranged transversely of the said framework and finding bearings thereon, a crank mounted upon the said shaft, hand-operated means IOO IIO

for rotating the same,a beveled gear-wheel rigidly affixed to said shaft, a counter-shatteritending at right angles to said crank-shaft and carrying a pinion adapted to mesh with the said beveled gear-wheel, a spur-Wheel carriedby the opposite end of said countershaft, a main shaft extending longitudinally of said hull and carrying a pinion adapted to mesh with the said spur-wheel, a shaft ex-` tending from the stern of lsaid hull and carrying a screw-propeller at its outer end, and

flexible means connecting said propeller-snai' t with said main shaft, substantially as `described.

7. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination with a hull, of means for operating a` stern-propeller, com prising a framework slidably mounted within said hull, a crankshaft arranged transversely of said framework and finding bearings thereon, hand-operated means for rotating the same, a beveled gear-wheel affixed to said shaft, a countershaft extending at right angles thereto and carrying a pinion adapted to mesh with the said beveled gear-wheel, a spur-wheel earried by said counter-shaft, a main shaft arranged longitudinally of said hull and provided with a groove for a portion ofits length,

a pinion keyed to said grooved portion and slidablelongitudinallyotsaid shaftand adapted to mesh with said spur-Wheel, and means for imparting motion from said main shaft to a screw-propeller at the stern of said hull, the construction and arrangement being such that the said framework together with its supported propeller-operating mechanism may be adjusted bodily longitudinally of said hull for raising or lowering the stern thereof, substantially as described.

S. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination With a hull, of a framework mounted therein, a crank-shaft extending transversely of said framework, means carried by said crank-shaft forimparting motion `hand-operatedmeans for rotating the same,

comprising a yoke having its ends, pivotally secured to said hull and its arched portion ,extendingupwardly therefrom and adapted to serve as a handle, a cross-rod connecting the arms of said yoke, apitmanpivotallyse- Y cured to said cross-rod and connecting the same with said crank, and means for adjusting said cross-rod longitudinally of said yoke, substantially as described. s y y Y 9. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination with the hull, ofcrank-operated mechanism for imparting motion to stern .and side propellers, and Vmeans for rotating said crank comprising a yoke having its ends pivotally secured to said hull, means for adjusting said ends longitudinally of the hull, sleeve-bearings carried by the arms of said yoke, means for adjustably securing said sleeves at varyin g distances longitudinally of said arms, a rod connecting said sleeve-bearings, and a pitman connecting the said rod with said crank, substantially as described.

1.0. In a hand-operated-propeller vessel, the combination with a hull, of crank-operated mechanism therein for imparting motion cto a suitable propeller, and means `for rotating said crank, comprising a yoke having its ends pivotally secured to said hull, means for adjusting the ends thereof longitudinally of said hull, a rod `connectin g the arms of said yoke,x

means for adjusting the said rod longitudinallythereof, and a pitman pivotally secured to said rod and connecting the same to said crank, substantially as described.

i In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscrib- 

